Just Take A Minute: Oct. 12-16, 2009

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   Friday, Oct. 16

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HOMECOMING 2009! Come on out in full force in Maroon & White all weekend starting today to support the UMass teams. The hockey team hosts No. 2 and defending NCAA Champion Boston University at 7 p.m., tonight. On Saturday, the No. 18 football team hosts undefeated No. 4 UNH at 3:30 p.m. More than 25,000 fans are expected on campus this weekend for all the sporting events. The basketball teams also begin full practices on Friday.

Here's your home schedule of events on the UMass campus for homecoming:
Friday: Men's Soccer vs. Temple, 3 p.m. at Rudd Field
Friday: Ice Hockey vs. #2 Boston University, 7 p.m. at Mullins Center
Saturday: Women's Soccer vs. Rhode Island, 1 p.m. at Rudd Field
Saturday: Swimming & Diving vs. Boston University, 1 p.m. at Rogers Pool
Saturday: #18 Football vs. #4 New Hampshire, 3:30 p.m. at McGuirk Stadium
Sunday: Men's Soccer at Saint Joseph's, 1 p.m. Rudd Field
Sunday: Football Team in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk at Six Flags New England, 10 a.m.

In the Springfield Republican, Dick Baker has a preview of the UMass hockey game against defending NCAA Champion BU. It'll be the first Hockey East game for UMass (1-0), and the first regular-season game for BU.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette also has an outlook on the UMass-BU hockey tilt saying the Minutemen have little margin for error against the defending champs.

Former UMass star goalie Jonathan Quick saw his four-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday night as he suffered a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

The Boston Herald has a preview of the UMass-UNH football game with a focus on receiver Victor Cruz, who is just five catches from 100 in his career. The article incorrectly states he needs 13, it is actually five.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a preview of the UMass-UNH homecoming football game, stating the Minutemen are playing a "must win" game.

The new video scoreboard will not be installed at McGuirk Stadium in time for this Saturday's football game as originally planned. The production has been delayed. Look for it to be installed in the coming weeks. The athletic department apologizes it will not be ready for Homecoming.

The Sports Network has a look at the Top 25 games in FCS this weekend. It has a look at the UMass-UNH game and picks the Minutemen to prevail at home, 27-24.

The Sports Network has announced revised lists for the Walter Payton Award and Buck Buchanan Award for the top FCS offensive and defensive players. UMass' Tony Nelson is up for the Payton while Jeromy Miles is a candidate for the Buchanan. Delaware quarterback Pat Devlin was added the Payton list.

If you haven't seen it yet, Jeff Goodman on FoxSports.com, has a great feature on the UMass Basketball team. It's going to take some time at UMass, but trust me: The future is bright.

In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a feature story on the UMass freshman class.

With the start of full basketball practices set for Friday, UMass will not be holding a Midnight Madness event this year. The MinuteBlog on Masslivec.com, has a story citing the five best Midnight Madness moments from the last five years.

The website MidmajorMadness put UMass at No. 154 in its national rankings. Here's the content on the Minutemen: Guard Ricky Harris will garner some attention this year in the A-10. Harris can fill it up, but the Minutemen don't have enough complementary talent. UMass is going to need a season or two to get back into A-10 title contention. Harris' offense could lead to some upsets this season, but the frontcourt doesn't look as if it will scare anybody.

Stpehane Lasme made his debut with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel on Thursday. Playing in the Euroleague, Maccabi downed Slovenia's Olimpija Ljubljana 85-65 at home in the tournament's first game of the season. The Israeli power comes to the United States to face the New York Knicks on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.

The Daily Collegian has a look at the field hockey team as the No. 10 Minutewomen play two games in Philadelphia this weekend. UMass takes on two Atlantic 10 opponents in Saint Joseph's and Temple to open up conference play. UMass is a combined 5-1 against the two Philly teams since UMass coach Justine Sowry assumed control of the Minutewomen.

The Daily Collegian has a sidebar on field hockey, saying: Penalty corners, team health to decide UM's games in Philadelphia.

More previews from the Daily Collegian for women's soccer.

The swimming teams open the season on Saturday against Rhode Island and the Daily Collegian has an outlook. The coaches' voices were barely audible, as practice continued to go on in Boyden Gym. The sounds that filled the air as both the men's and women's swimming teams prepared for their first race of the season were that of hard work. The Massachusetts' swimming and diving teams were preparing for homecoming weekend as they embark on the 2009-2010.

This weekend, the UMass crew team travels 90 miles east on the Massachusetts Turnpike to take part in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, which is the most important race the Minutewomen will compete in this year. Check the Daily Collegian's preview.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Get your new replica UMass football jersey from the online store! Wear it with pride this weekend at the homecoming football game vs. UNH.

Don't Miss This:Take your pick of UMass events starting with men's soccer on Friday afternoon all the way to men's soccer on Sunday vs St. Joe's.

   Thursday, Oct. 15

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Just one day away from the start of homecoming weekend! Join us Thursday night at the Hangar Pub & Grille for the Bud Light UMass Football Radio Show. Seniors Armando Cuko and Michael Hanson are the scheduled guests along with Coach Kevin Morris. JTAM has lots of football and hockey news as well as a feature on basketball freshman Raphiael Putney.

Matt Vautour has a feature on freshman forward Raphiael Putney in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. The story focuses on the "Skinny Man" adding on weight and becoming a force for the Minutemen during his time in Amherst.

Fans who want to come se UMass play Holy Cross at the DCU Center in Worcester on Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m., can get their tickets starting on Friday at 10 a.m. Tickets for adults are $26 and $16, with students and children tickets being $26 and $6.

Check out CBS3 Springfield's complete look at the UMass teams involvement in National Walk To School Day on Wednesday.

The Daily Collegian has a complete preview of the UMass-UNH homecoming game this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

In a sidebar, the Collegian looks at UMass' home field dominance at McGuirk Stadium. "We've got to come back and make a statement that we're still competitors in this conference," quarterback Kyle Havens said. "We still have faith that we can win this conference, so it's a big game."

Masslive.com has a brief preview of the football game this weekend.

In the UFL last night, the Las Vegas Locomotives started an all UMass backfield of tailback Marcel Shipp and fullback E.J. Barthel as the Locos lost to the Florida Tuskers, 29-15 in Las Vegas. Shipp had 10 carries for 39 yards. Barthel didn't touch the ball.

The Daily Collegian has a preview of the hockey team's game with BU on Friday night. The Minutemen will challenge the reigning national champions and second-ranked team in the polls.

The UMass hockey team hopes to generate back-to-back offensive performances when they take on BU Friday. The Daily Collegian has a sidebar on the PP Unit and James Marcou's honors.

The Burlington Free-Press in Vermont has a Hockey East preview. On UMass it says: The Minutemen lost three 10-goal scorers but have James Marcou (15-32-47), the top returning scorer in HE conference play, and Casey Wellman (11-22-33) to harass opposing goalies. Paul Dainton provides solid goaltending; only BU's Kieran Millan had a better HE goals-against average among returnees. Coach Don Cahoon has a platoon of veteran defensemen, but breaking into the top echelon of Hockey East will be tough.

The Daily Collegian has a preview of the men's soccer team. After an A-10 weekend split, the team will look to bounce back against Temple on Friday and Saint Joseph's on Sunday.

The Collegian has a sidebar on Chris Piekos being named the official starter for the UMass soccer team, the offense has suffered a blow with Mark DeSantis suffering from an undisclosed illness.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Get your new replica UMass football jersey from the online store! Wear it with pride this weekend at the homecoming football game vs. UNH.

Don't Miss This: Tony Gaffney is back in action with the Los Angeles Lakers tonight in Las Vegas as the Lakers play the Sacramento Kings at 10 p.m. ET. Here in Amherst, we are one day away from the start of homecoming festivities. The men's soccer team takes on Temple at 3 p.m. to start all the action followed by the hockey team hosting No. 2 Boston University at the Mullins Center.

   Wednesday, Oct. 14

A rainbow over Garber Field.

Check out the beautiful rainbow over UMass yesterday afternoon. When it was out, it just had to make you smile. Here in Just Take A Minute, we have bring you news on football, basketball and more. Join us at the UMass Sports Luncheon this afternoon at 12:15 p.m. at the Campus Center. Call 413-545-4930 for information. Also, read JTAM to find out what former UMass women's soccer star is playing pro football.

In his blog, Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette takes a look at "One Month" from now when the basketball season will be underway.

The Sports Network has its "Around FCS" look at the top teams in the division with several mentions of UMass and upcoming foe UNH.

The Daily Collegian has a look around the CAA with some major movement in the standings.

News from New Hampshire as the Minutemen prepare for their titanic clash on Saturday at McGuirk Stadium. The Sentinel Source has a story on the UNH Wildcats moving up to No. 4 in the national polls.

Seacoast Online has a story on New Hampshire's R.J. Toman and Scott Sicko making a connection as a the quarterback and tight end.

Let's take a look at UMass' alums in the CFL. Over the weekend, Keron Williams got the best of Shannon James as the former Minutemen stars faced off. The Montreal Alouettes downed the Calgary Stampeders, 32-11. Williams had three tackles and a sack, James made one stop. For the year, James has 45 tackles while Williams has 25 tackles and eight sacks (sixth in the CFL).

The top UMass alum performing in Canada is linebacker Anton McKenzie with the BC Lions. His squad posted a 34-31 win over the Edmonton Eskimos over the weekend. McKenzie had a team-high six tackles and a sack. For the year, the Long Island native has 63 tackles, sixth in the CFL, along with five sacks.

From the UFL, check out this preview of Wednesday's game between the Las Vegas Locomotives and Florida Tuskers. Both teams won their league openers.

Kurowski had 127 career points at UMass.

So, if you were wondering which former UMass women's soccer player is playing professional football, its Emma Kurowski, who plays for the San Diego Seduction. The league plays in major arenas around the country including Emma's team at the San Diego Sports Arena, where they host the Dallas Desire this Friday night. At UMass from 1996-99, Kurowski had 47 goals and 127 points as she finished as the school's all-time leading scorer.

Kurowski with her football game face on.

The Daily Collegian has its notebook on A-10 women's soccer. Dayton's women soccer team remains one of three unbeaten Division I teams after this weekend of play. Stanford and South Carolina are the other remaining two.

Former UMass goalie Jon Quick was named the NHL's Number 2 Star for last week. Quick stopped 80 of 88 shots in posting a 3-0-0 record with a 2.67 goals-against average and .909 save percentage as Los Angeles improved to 3-1-0 and a tie for first place in the Pacific Division. Quick recorded 25 saves in a 6-4 win over the San Jose Sharks Oct. 6 and stopped 26 shots in a 6-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 8. Quick finished the week by making 29 saves as the Kings defeated the St. Louis Blues, 2-1, on Oct 10.

With the No. 10 field hockey team preparing for its trip to Philadelphia, the Saint Joseph's Hawks are eying the Minutewomen for Friday's game. Check out this story from the The Hawk, SJU's student paper.

The Daily Collegian looks at A-10 field hockey and the league's improvement in non-conference games.

In his weekly college notebook column in the Springfield Republican, Dick Baker has news on the men's cross country team and its local ties with five of 14 runners being from Western Mass. UMass is ranked eighth in the Northeast Division in the most recent U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association's poll. The Atlantic 10 championships will be held Oct. 31 in St. Louis. The Minutemen are defending champions.

The UMass tennis team continues its fall season with a match against Rhode Island this afternoon. The Daily Collegian has a preview.

The Daily Collegian has a look around the world of A-10 men's soccer.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: The site and UMass Athletic Department is offering a FREE 9X12 Photo through the new photo store, the offer goes through today. So get your free print today.

Don't Miss This: Join us at the UMass Sports Luncheon at 12:15 p.m. as Athlete of the Week James Marcou will be honored in addition to guest speakers football coach Kevin Morris and hockey coach Toot Cahoon.

   Tuesday, Oct. 13

Welcome back to Just Take A Minute on a rainy Tuesday, hope you enjoyed the extended weekend. JTAM brings you stories on football, men's and women's soccer, field hockey, rowing and cross country. Also catch up with Tony Gaffney who is vying for a spot with the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Tuesday means its the Bud Light UMass Hockey Show from the Hangar Pub & Grille, join us or listen at 7 p.m. The football team stands 18th and 20th in the two major FCS polls.

The football team dropped to 18th in the Sports Network media poll and fell to 20th in the FCS Coaches Poll. Saturday's foe New Hampshire stands fourth in both polls, giving UMass a great opportunity to move back up with the win. Delaware is back in the Top 25 after the win over the Minutemen, who were No. 12 and 13 last week.

The Springfield Republican has a follow-up on UMass football.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a look at the CAA at the midway point of the season and how team's are shaping up in an early look at the battle for playoff spots. The Gazette also has a notebook on the football team.

In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a notebook on various basketball topics leading with a look at Tony Gaffney and his chances to make the L.A. Lakers.

The Daily Collegian has a full recap of the cross country teams competition at the New England Championships where the men finished second and the women took 14th.

In a match-up of Top 10 teams, the UMass field hockey team suffered its second straight shutout loss to UConn, 3-0, on Friday. The year-in-a-row/">Daily Collegian has coverage.

The men's soccer team split two games in Ohio this weekend, the Daily Collegian provides coverage.

The women's soccer team suffered two losses to La Salle and Fordham this past weekend at home. The Daily Collegian recaps the tough weekend for the Minutewomen.

The Daily Collegian has a sidebar on women's soccer goalkeeper Emily Cota and how head coach Angela Napoli is sticking with the freshman.

The Daily Collegian has a review of the women's rowing team's first event of the fall, where they competed well.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: The site and UMass Athletic Department is offering a FREE 9X12 Photo through the new photo store, the offer goes through Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Don't Miss This: The Bud Light UMass Hockey Show takes place Tuesday night at the Hangar on University Drive. Come down and listen to some great hockey talk as the Minutemen host defending NCAA Champion Boston University on Friday night at 7 p.m.

   Monday, Oct. 12

Back in 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World today, take a second to think about that. Back here in Amherst, it was a bust weekend for the UMass teams with action on the gridiron, soccer pitches, field hockey turf, cross country courses and more. The Springfield Republican has a great feature story on the "Fine Five" freshman class. JTAM has updates on UMass' pro performers.

Ron Chimelis has a Springfield Republican feature on the UMass freshman class: Terrell Vinson, Freddie Riley, Raphiael Putney, Sampson Carter and Javorn Farrell. It also features a video interview with head coach Derek Kellogg and the frosh. Chimelis has profiles on the five freshmen.

The UMass football made the long trek down to Delaware and suffered a 43-27 loss to the Blue Hens. Check out these recaps from the game: Daily Hampshire Gazette, Springfield Republican, Boston Herald, Boston Globe, Daily Collegian, Sports Network, Philadelphia Inquirer, Delaware Journal News, Newark Post and Associated Press.

The Delaware News-Journal has a follow-up on the UMass-UD game saying it was a "must win" for the Blue Hens.

Former UMass head coach Don Brown has had a difficult start to the season as the defensive coordinator at Maryland as the Terps lost to Wake Forest, 42-32 on Saturday. The ps/bal-sp.terpsfoot10oct10,0,7801368.story">Baltimore Sun has a story on the Terps improving defense where Brown cites his first year at UMass -- 1998. "It's funny. When I went in '98 to UMass [as defensive coordinator], it took us about six or seven games, and then over the last bit of the season right through the [Division I-AA] national championship game we played really well," Brown said.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette and Springfield Republican have short recaps of UMass' soccer results from Friday as the men won at Xavier, 1-0, and the women lost to La Salle, 3-2.

The Los Angeles Lakers made their first cuts of preseason and UMass' Tony Gaffney survived as one two free agent rookies to still be in camp. The Tony Gaffney as the remaining Cinderella candidates on the training camp roster.

Gaffney played his second game of the preseason as the Lakers lost to the Golden State Warriors, 110-91. Gaffney played six minutes and had four rebounds, but did not score.

Marcus Camby made his preseason debut with the L.A. Clippers as the Clips beat Portland 97-85. Camby had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Former UMass All-American goalie Jon Quick posted a 2-1 win for the L.A. Kings over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. The Los Angeles Times has a piece on Quick, who has won three games in a row, it includes a nice video collection of saves. The Boston Globe mentions.

Greg Mauldin in action with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

In the AHL, UMas alums faced off as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Greg Mauldin beat the Worcester Sharks and Cory Quirk in overtime, 4-3, on Friday. Mauldin had a goal in the shootout for the Sound Tigers.

Looking ahead to Friday's hockey game against defending NCAA Champion Boston University, the Terriers beat the U.S. Under 18 Team, 3-2, in a preseason game. The Boston Globe has coverage of the game as BU raised its NCAA banner.

In NFL action, former UMass All-American Jeremy Cain and his Jacksonville Jaguars were blanked 41-0 at the Seattle Seahawks. Cain snapped eight times on Adam Podlesh punts for the Jags.

Matt Lawrence and his Baltimore Ravens suffered a last-second 17-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The UMass product played special teams but did not make any tackles.

Off the athletics front, but of big interest, the Boston Globe had a front page lead news story on UMass looking to add more-out-of state students to generate more money for the school.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: The site and UMass Athletic Department is offering a FREE 9X12 Photo through the new photo store, the offer goes through Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Don't Miss This: Watch on ESPN tonight as UMass alum James Ihedigbo and the New York Jets play the Miami Dolphins at 8:30 p.m. Look for Ihedigbo in No. 44 for the Jets.

Look Back To The Week Of: Oct. 5-9 | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Sept. 21-25 | Sept. 14-18 | Sept. 7-11 | Aug. 31-Sept. 4 | Aug. 24-28 | Aug. 17-21 | Aug. 10-14 | Aug. 3-8 | July 27-31 | July 20-24 | July 13-17 | July 6-10 | June 29-July 3 | June 22-26 | June 15-19 | June 8-12 | June 1-5 | May 25-29 | May 18-22 | May 11-15 | May 4-8 | April 27-May 1 | April 20-24 | April 13-17 | April 6-10 | March 30 -Apr. 3 | March 23-27 | March 16-20 | March 9-13 | Mar. 2-6 | Feb. 23-27 | Feb. 16-20 | Feb. 9-13 | Feb. 2-6 | Jan. 26-30 | Jan. 19-23 | Jan. 12-16 | Jan. 5-9 | Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009 | Dec. 22-26 | Dec. 15- 19 | Dec. 8-12 | Dec. 1-5 | 13008aaa.html">Nov. 24-28 | Nov. 17-21 | Nov. 10-14 | Nov. 3-7 | Oct. 27-31 | Oct. 20-24, 2008 | Oct. 13-17, 2008 | Oct. 6-10, 2008 | Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2008 | Sept. 22-26, 2008 | Sept. 15-19, 2008 | Sept. 8-12, 2008 | Sept. 1-5, 2008 | Aug. 25-29, 2008 | Aug. 18-22, 2008

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